Suction-mouthpiece for dredges.



H. J. CLARK.

SUGTION MOUTBPIBCE FOB. DBBDGBS.

APPLICATION FIEED APILZB, 1908.

v TH: Norm: Pirtks co.. Hallman. n. c.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

HORACE J. CLARK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CLARK DREDGE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

SUCTION-MOUTHPIE CE FOR DREDGE S.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1909.

l To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE J. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Suction Mouthpieces for Dredges, of which the following is a specilication, reference lbeing had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a suction mouthpiece for dredges, and particularly to an oscillating scoop construction adapted for gold dredging purposes.

The invention has for an object to provide an improved construction of suction mouthpiece embodying oppositely disposed scoops each communicating with a suction pipe, and a cooperating shiftin valve mounted to automatically close t e inlet from either scoop and also in its movement to dislodge from the inlet openings any stones or other objects which would collect and interfere with the suction action.

Another object of the invention is to provide a disk or semispherical scoop having a central opening communicating with a suction pipe and mounted for adjustment upon its support so that in the event of wear or injury the entire peripheral surface thereof may be used.

A further object of the invention is to provide the scoops with a projecting operating bar which is shifted by the Contact of material with the scoop so as to operate the valve to close the opening of the opposite scoop into the suction pipe.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and the novel features thereof dened by the appended claims.

In the rawing:-Figure 1 is an elevation of a dredge having the invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section through the suction pi e and scoops; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of t ese arts; Fig. 4 is a detail section on line 4-4, ig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of the valve and its operating bar.

Like numerals refer to like parts in the several views of the drawin The invention is ada ted for application to any form of dredge aving a suction action, and is here shown as mounted upon a hull 10 of any desired construction which is I provided at one end with a holdinJr spud 11 and at its opposite end with a epending beam 12 carrying the suction pipe 13. At the opposite ends of this beam the eccentrically disposed Wheels 14 and 15 are mounted for movement and are connected by a cable 16 so as to impart to the scoops an c oscillatory movement. In the presentl instance the cable is Wound upon the eccentric wheels for several turns, and one of the strands thereof is secured at 17 to the wheel by a staple or other fastening device so that the complete rotation of the wheel is prevented, and each of the wheels is retained in the same relative position so as to secure the leverage necessary for raising the scoop. Other means for securing such a leverage and oscillatory movement may be used if desired. The suction pi e 13 is connected at its u per end vwith any esired form of pump 18 w ich discharges through the conducting pipe 19 into the screenin device as indicate at 20. The beam 12 is a apted to be raised and lowered by a block and tackle connection, as shown at 21 which is supported at the bow of the boat on the beam 22.

The scoops are pivotally mounted by any preferred means at the lower end of the beam 12 and in case one of these beams is used at each side of the hull a connecting beam 25 forms the support for the scoops. In that case this beam is provided with the bearing 26 to receive one end 27 of the suction pipe 13 which pipe is provided with an elbow 28 having a trunnion 29 extended therefrom and 'ournaled in the bearing 30 carried by the eam 25. The eccentric Wheel 15 is secured to the portion 27 of the suction pipe and the suction pipe 13 communicates therewith through the bearing 29. Secured to the elbow section 28 is a bearing block 30 having curved outer faces to support the scoops 31 which are secured thereto in any desired manner. Within this bearin block a lining sleeve 32 is disposed and is ormed of suitable hard material such as manganese steel to withstand the Wear upon these parts. The scoops are formed of cup sha ed disks substantially semispherical in con guration and each provided With a port 33 communicatin with the suction pipe. These scoops are a so mounted so as to be rotatably adjusted in position and thereby compensate for theuwearjthereon. The lowerportionmof 60 strands.

the smania .tended.wththnsliel.slitting l teeth or bla es 34 bolted thereon andnwhich Narejremoved and replaced in the adjustment. of' the scoops which are each provided withv 5 suitable apertures t'o receive the securing devices for these cutters.- -Within thersuction pipe and coperating with the opposite ports A33 is avalve 36 having seating faces at opposite sides of the'standard 37 thereon,

which standard is carriedupon a slide bar 355 mounted in the bearing 30 and formed ofV such length that the'outer end portions `39 thereof are projected beyond the inner periphery of one of the scoops when the opposite l5 end is fiush with the periphery of the oppol site scoop, thus shifting the valve faces from one port to the other by contact of the material with the ends of this bar. In Vorder to remove stones or other obstructions which in the suction action may clog the ports 33, the

valve is also provided with projections 40 which in their travel extend into the ports and etfectually force out obstructions therefrom. VFor the purpose of permitting the application of this bar in any of the adjustments of the scoops a series of openings 4l is provided .therein at proper intervals through which the lends 39 of the slide bar mayeXtend.

In the operation ofthe invention it will be seen that the scoop in rising in its oscillatory "movement from the position shown in Fig. 1 -to a substantially horizontal plane catches Vand directs all of the material directly toward the central port of the scoop into which it enters by gravity assistedby the suction action, and in this movement the valve is shifted so as to completely close the port of Vthe lower scoop, while in the returning action the same operation is performed thus materially increasing the capacity of the scoolp. i u

It has been found impracticable to pic and convey particles of gold or heavy meta s by the ordinary scoop constructions Which agitate the material and force the gold be- 'loW the area of suction, while the present construction digs into andbeneath the material forcing it with all contained values directly into the suction ipe and digs both upwardly and downwar ly under the control of a single operator thus delivering sufficient material to supply the maximumvcapacyity of pump. "Ilhe degree of oscillation of these scoops may be varied as found desirable, the present construction being shown to preventthe complete rotation thereof, as

the attachment of the cables to the Wheels controls their relation to each other and secures the necessary oscillation by the un- Windmg of the remaining portions ofthe The valve construction is automatic in its operation, notvonly controllingtheports but S9 .removing .stones or .other v.QbStru@tions which may collect and clogtheportsulillg .the dredging action.

favinseesaited .fnrenen .and Set fcrthits merits, what claim and 'desire to secure by Letters VPatent is T1. A suction mouthpiece comprising oppositely disposed scoops,a"suction pipe communicatingtherewith and a shifting valve v mounted to close the inlet from either scoop.

2. A suction mouthpiece comprising oppoysitely disposedscoops, a suction pipecommunicating therewith, and an automatically shifting valve mounted to close the inlet from either scoop.

3. A suction mouthpiece comprising oppositely disposed scoops, a suction pipe communicating therewith and a shifting valve mounted to close the inlet from either scoop and having means disposed to be operated -by the material in the scoop.

4. A suction mouthpiece comprising oppositely disposed scoops, a suction pipe communicating with said scoops, and a slide bar having a `valve disk adapted to close the communicating opening from either scoop.4

5. A suction mouthpiece comprising oppositely disposed scoops', a suction pipe communicating with said scoops, and a slide bar j having a valve disk adapted Vto close lthe 'communicating opening from either scoop said bar being extended beyond the -face of oneofthescoops 6. In asuction mouthpiece, oppositely disings, a valve disposed in said pipe to automatically close either opening, and a slide.

bar connected to said valveand disposedfto project beyond the inner face of YVone of the Scoops.

.8. I n l a suction mOuthpiece, oppQsitelydisposed disk scoops each having a central opening, a suction pipe disposed betweensaid scoops and communicating with said v openings, avalve disposed in said pipe to automatically close either opening, a slide bar connected to 'said valve and disposed to project beyond Vthe inner face of one of the scoops, and a cutterblade disposed upon the periphery of said scoops.

9. In a suction. mouthpiece, a suction' pipe,"a scoophaving an opening to communicate therewith, and a bearing block'secured to said pipe and upon which said scoop is adjusta ly mounted.

10. In a suction mouthpiece, a suction.`

.pipa Scoop havingian A Opening-,11,01 commu- -n1c ate therewith, va V valve 'controlling said ope/ning, andjmeans ,Carried by said .valveito .remove QbLStruCtlQns from .saldppening 11. In a suction mouthpiece, a suction pipe, and a semispherical scoop having a central opening communicating with said pipe.

12. In a suction mouth iece, a `suction pipe, a semispherical scoop aving a central opening communicating with said pipe, and a cutter adjustably secured to the periphery of said scoop.

13. In a suction mouth piece, a suction pipe, a scoop mounted for rotatable shifting and provided `With a series of openings through the body thereof, a valve controlling a port from said scoop, and an operating bar from said valve extended through one of said openings.

14. In a suction mouth piece, a suction pipe, a bearing block mounted thereon and provided With opposite curved faces, and scoops secured to said faces and rovided with ports communicating with sai suction pipe.

15. In a suction mouthpiece, a suction pipe, a bearing block mounted thereon and provided with opposite curved faces, scoops secured to said faces and provided with ports communicating With said suction ipe, a pivotal support for said pipe, an an eccentrically disposed operating member secured to said support.

16. In a suction mouthpiece, a suction pipe, a bearing block mounted thereon and provided With opposite curved faces, scoops secured to said faces and provided With ports communicating With said suction pipe, a pivotal support for said pipe, an eccentrically disposed wheel secured to said pipe, and an actuating cable for said Wheel havin a` plurality of strands thereon one of whic is secured to said wheel.

17. In a suction mouthpiece, a suction pipe, oppositely disposed scoo s having ports communicatin With sai pipe, a double valve dispose Within said plpe, and means for operating said valve.

18. In a suction mouthpiece, a suction pipe, oppositely disposed scoo s having y ports communicating with sai pipe, a double valve disposedwithin said pipe, and a sliding bar mounted to project beyond the face of one of said scoops and connected ,to said valve.

19. In a suction mouthpiece, a suction pipe, oppositely disposed scoo s having ports communicating with sai pipe, a double valve disposed Within said p1 e, a sliding `bar mounted to project beyon the face of one of said scoops and connected to said valve, and projections from the face of said valve to enter said ports.

20. In a suction mouthpiece, a suction pipe com rising an elbow section, pivotal earings or sald section, oscillating means carried b said section, and a scoop member attac ed to the free end of said section.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HORACE J. CLARK.

Witnesses:

ALFRED T. GAGE, JOHN L. FLETCHER. 

